NTSB CAROL · Event
Event ATL01LA098
Registry · N121FL
FAA Aircraft Registry record.
Make / Model
SCHLEICHER ASK-21
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A057F1
Registrant of record
EAGLEVILLE SOARING INC
Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The loss of thermals during the glider flight that resulted in the collision with high vegetation while maneuvering for an emergency landing. A factor was high vegetation.
Factual narrative
On August 26, 2001, at 1720 central daylight time, a Schleicher ASK-21, glider, N121FL, registered to a private owner, collided with high vegetation while maneuvering for an emergency landing near Eagleville, Tennessee. The instructional flight was operated by Eagleville Sailplane Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The glider sustained substantial damage, and the air transport pilot was not injured. The flight departed Pickett Gliderport in Eagleville, Tennessee, at 1635. The pilot reported that after takeoff he flew to an area of thermal activity. Upon completing several minutes of upper airwork, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While en route to the departure airport, the pilot realized that he had entered an area where he was unable to maintain altitude and thermal activity was lost. The pilot selected a nearby bean field for an emergency landing. According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the right wing collided with a tall plant and the glider ground looped. Examination of the glider at the accident site revealed structural damage to the fuselage aft section. No mechanical problem was reported by the pilot. The pilot reported that after takeoff he flew to an area of thermal activity. Upon completing several minutes of upper air work, the pilot elected to return to the departure airport. While en route to the departure airport, the pilot realized that he had entered an area where he was unable to maintain altitude and thermal activity was lost. The pilot selected a nearby bean field for an emergency landing. According to the pilot, during the landing roll, the right wing collided with a tall plant and the glider ground looped. Examination of the glider at the accident site revealed structural damage to the fuselage aft section. No mechanical problem was reported by the pilot. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2001_ATL01LA098.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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